Respiratory & Sleep
Respiratory Conditions, TERA & the PACT Act
Filing for asthma, COPD, sleep apnea, sinusitis and burn-pit presumptives — with the full VA rating schedule
Respiratory conditions such as asthma, COPD, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis, sleep apnea, rhinitis, sinusitis and sarcoidosis are common among veterans exposed to burn pits, dust, sand and toxic substances. The PACT Act expanded presumptive service connection for many of them. Ratings are driven by pulmonary function testing — and the numbers are where claims are won or lost.
What Respiratory Conditions, TERA & the PACT Act Really Is
Breathing is the one thing you cannot stop doing, so when your lungs stop cooperating it touches every hour of the day. Asthma, chronic bronchitis, COPD, restrictive lung disease, constrictive bronchiolitis. The VA rates most of it by numbers off a pulmonary function test, which means the single most important thing that happens in your claim is a fifteen-minute breathing test you may not even be told matters.
What it actually means
Breathing is the one thing you cannot stop doing, so when your lungs stop cooperating it touches every hour of the day. Asthma, chronic bronchitis, COPD, restrictive lung disease, constrictive bronchiolitis. The VA rates most of it by numbers off a pulmonary function test, which means the single most important thing that happens in your claim is a fifteen-minute breathing test you may not even be told matters.
What the VA measures
For obstructive disease the VA uses FEV-1, the FEV-1 to FVC ratio, and DLCO, and it also rates asthma on how often you need medication and whether you need daily inhalational or oral steroids. Post-bronchodilator numbers are normally used unless the pre-bronchodilator results are worse and better reflect your disability.
Why claims get missed
A pulmonary function test taken on a good day, after your rescue inhaler, in an air-conditioned room, is not the picture of your life. Veterans also let the exam close without documenting how often they use a rescue inhaler and how many oral steroid courses they have had in a year, which are the exact facts the schedule turns into a higher rating.
What in Your Service Causes Respiratory Conditions, TERA & the PACT Act
Service connection is not a feeling, it is a chain of evidence. These are the pathways the VA already recognises. Find yours, then make sure your file says it out loud.
Burn pits and airborne hazards
Under the PACT Act, asthma diagnosed after service, chronic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, chronic bronchitis, COPD, constrictive bronchiolitis, emphysema, and several cancers are presumptive for veterans who served in the covered locations and periods. You do not have to prove exposure.
Asbestos, silica, and industrial dust
Ships, boiler rooms, old barracks, engine spaces, demolition, and vehicle maintenance carried real particulate exposure that shows up decades later on imaging.
Fuel, solvent, and exhaust fumes
JP-8, diesel, and generator exhaust in enclosed spaces are documented respiratory irritants and can cause reactive airway disease.
Untreated in-service respiratory illness
Repeated documented bronchitis or pneumonia during service supports direct service connection for the chronic disease that followed.
Filing a VA Claim for Respiratory Conditions
Filing for VA disability benefits for a respiratory condition can be a crucial step for veterans whose health has been impacted by their service. Conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sleep apnea, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, pleurisy, rhinitis, sinusitis, and rhinosinusitis are common among veterans — especially those exposed to environmental hazards, toxic substances, or harsh conditions during service. These conditions can significantly impair a veteran’s daily life, ability to work, and overall well-being, making appropriate medical care and compensation essential.
Establishing Service Connection
To establish a service connection for a respiratory condition, veterans must meet three criteria set by the VA. First, there must be a current diagnosis of the condition. Second, there must be evidence of an in-service event, injury, or exposure that could have caused or aggravated it — for example, documented exposure to dust, chemicals, or toxic substances. Third, a nexus, or link, must connect the in-service event to the current condition — usually a medical opinion stating it is "at least as likely as not" that the condition was caused or aggravated by service.
Current diagnosis of the respiratory condition
In-service event, injury, or environmental exposure
Medical nexus linking the two ("at least as likely as not")
Service treatment records and post-service medical records
Lay statements describing onset and continuity of symptoms
Why Work With an Accredited Advocate
Veterans should seek the assistance of an Accredited VA Disability Advocate because we guide you through the complex claims process and ensure all necessary evidence is gathered and presented effectively. Our advocates are trained to identify and link service-related conditions, increasing the likelihood of a successful claim. We also provide personalized representation, helping veterans navigate appeals and secure the benefits they deserve.
Respiratory Conditions Claimable for VA Disability
Chronic Bronchitis
A form of COPD marked by long-term inflammation of the bronchial tubes, causing a persistent cough with mucus, shortness of breath, frequent respiratory infections, and fatigue. Veterans exposed to tobacco smoke, dust, and chemical fumes during service may be at higher risk.
Emphysema
A chronic form of COPD in which the alveoli (air sacs) are damaged and lose elasticity, making it hard to expel air. It causes shortness of breath, chronic cough, and reduced ability to perform physical activity — often severely compromised in veterans exposed to harmful substances.
Asthma and Breathing Conditions
A chronic condition in which the airways become inflamed and narrowed, causing wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing. Episodes are often triggered by allergens, cold air, exercise, or stress, and can significantly limit physical activity and readiness.
Sinusitis
Inflammation or swelling of the sinus lining causing nasal congestion, facial pain or pressure, headache, and a runny or stuffy nose. When it persists beyond 12 weeks despite treatment it is chronic. It commonly results from prolonged exposure to dust, pollutants, or allergens in arid or polluted deployment environments.
Rhinitis
Inflammation of the mucous membrane inside the nose, causing sneezing, itching, nasal congestion, and runny nose. It can be allergic (pollen, dust, dander) or non-allergic (smoke, strong odors, temperature changes) and can significantly disrupt sleep and daily comfort.
Sarcoidosis
An inflammatory disease that forms granulomas — small clusters of inflammatory cells — most often in the lungs and lymph glands. Symptoms include a persistent dry cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, and fatigue, and it can follow exposure to environmental hazards during service.
COPD
A group of progressive lung diseases, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis, that obstruct airflow. Symptoms include a persistent productive cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, and frequent infections. Long-term exposure to dust, fumes, and smoke during service can exacerbate it.
Sleep Apnea
Repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when throat muscles block the airway; central sleep apnea (CSA) occurs when the brain fails to signal breathing. Untreated, it can lead to hypertension, heart disease, and stroke, and often connects secondarily to other service-connected conditions.
Pulmonary Fibrosis
Thickening and scarring of lung tissue that progressively impairs breathing and oxygen transfer. Symptoms include chronic dry cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, and aching muscles and joints — especially serious for veterans exposed to environmental toxins.
Pneumonia
An infection that inflames the air sacs, filling them with fluid or pus, causing chest pain, productive cough, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing. Severe cases can cause hospitalization and long-term lung damage.
Tuberculosis (TB)
A contagious bacterial infection primarily affecting the lungs, causing a cough lasting more than three weeks, chest pain, coughing up blood, fever, night sweats, and weight loss. Veterans who served where TB is prevalent may be at increased risk.
TERA-Related Respiratory Conditions
The Toxic Exposure Risk Assessment (TERA) process evaluates and documents the risks associated with the environmental exposures veterans encountered. TERA helps identify health risks linked to specific military activities and locations, providing a basis for presumptive service connections. For example, veterans exposed to burn pits may have an increased risk of COPD and chronic bronchitis, while those exposed to Agent Orange may develop respiratory cancers and pulmonary fibrosis. By using TERA data, the VA can streamline the claims process and ensure veterans with documented exposures receive timely, appropriate compensation and healthcare.
VA Presumptive Respiratory Conditions
Presumptive respiratory conditions are illnesses the VA recognizes as directly related to service due to certain exposures or service locations. Veterans who served where known environmental hazards existed — such as burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan, or Agent Orange in Vietnam — may develop conditions the VA presumes to be service-connected. This presumption removes the need to prove a direct nexus. Common presumptive respiratory conditions include asthma, COPD, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis, and respiratory cancers.
Burn Pits and Particulates
Veterans exposed to burn pits during deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other Southwest Asia locations inhaled toxic smoke and fumes from burning plastics, medical waste, and hazardous materials. The VA presumes conditions such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, and COPD for these veterans.
Blue Water and Brown Water Veterans
Blue Water Navy veterans who served on ships off the coast of Vietnam are presumed exposed to Agent Orange, which can lead to COPD, bronchitis, and respiratory cancers recognized as presumptive for service connection.
Vietnam Veterans
Vietnam veterans are presumed exposed to Agent Orange and other herbicides, linked to COPD, bronchitis, emphysema, and lung cancer — all presumed for service connection due to documented herbicide exposure.
Gulf War Veterans
Gulf War veterans may suffer respiratory conditions from oil-well fires, chemical agents, and particulate matter. The VA presumes conditions like asthma, chronic bronchitis, and rhinitis for those who served in the Gulf War region.
VA Hazardous Exposure Registry
Veterans are strongly encouraged to participate in the VA registry program. By enrolling, you provide valuable information about your health and service history, helping the VA monitor and study the long-term effects of exposures such as burn pits, Agent Orange, and other environmental hazards. This data helps the VA recognize patterns, identify new conditions linked to service, and improve veterans’ care and benefits — while strengthening the record behind your own claim.
The Rating Schedule, Spelled Out
The VA rates respiratory conditions based on the severity of symptoms and their impact on daily life, determined using specific diagnostic criteria — including pulmonary function tests (FEV-1, FEV-1/FVC, and DLCO values), the frequency and severity of symptoms, and treatment requirements. Ratings range from 0% to 100%. These are the actual criteria from 38 CFR §4.97.
FEV-1 of 71–80% predicted, or FEV-1/FVC of 71–80%, or intermittent inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy.
FEV-1 of 56–70% predicted, or FEV-1/FVC of 56–70%, or daily inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy, or inhalational anti-inflammatory medication.
FEV-1 of 40–55% predicted, or FEV-1/FVC of 40–55%, or at least monthly physician visits for exacerbations, or intermittent (at least three per year) courses of systemic corticosteroids.
FEV-1 less than 40% predicted, or FEV-1/FVC less than 40%, or more than one attack per week with episodes of respiratory failure, or daily use of systemic high-dose corticosteroids or immuno-suppressive medications.
FEV-1 of 71–80% predicted, or FEV-1/FVC of 71–80%, or DLCO (SB) of 66–80% predicted.
FEV-1 of 56–70% predicted, or FEV-1/FVC of 56–70%, or DLCO (SB) of 56–65% predicted.
FEV-1 of 40–55% predicted, or FEV-1/FVC of 40–55%, or DLCO (SB) of 40–55% predicted, or maximum oxygen consumption of 15–20 ml/kg/min (with cardiorespiratory limit).
FEV-1 less than 40% predicted, or FEV-1/FVC less than 40%, or DLCO (SB) less than 40% predicted, or maximum exercise capacity less than 15 ml/kg/min, or cor pulmonale, or right ventricular hypertrophy, or pulmonary hypertension, or acute respiratory failure, or outpatient oxygen therapy.
FEV-1 of 71–80% predicted, or FEV-1/FVC of 71–80%, or DLCO (SB) of 66–80% predicted.
FEV-1 of 56–70% predicted, or FEV-1/FVC of 56–70%, or DLCO (SB) of 56–65% predicted.
FEV-1 of 40–55% predicted, or FEV-1/FVC of 40–55%, or DLCO (SB) of 40–55% predicted, or maximum oxygen consumption of 15–20 ml/kg/min.
FEV-1 less than 40% predicted, or FEV-1/FVC less than 40%, or DLCO (SB) less than 40% predicted, or cor pulmonale, or right ventricular hypertrophy, or pulmonary hypertension, or acute respiratory failure, or outpatient oxygen therapy.
FEV-1 of 71–80% predicted, or FEV-1/FVC of 71–80%, or DLCO (SB) of 66–80% predicted.
FEV-1 of 56–70% predicted, or FEV-1/FVC of 56–70%, or DLCO (SB) of 56–65% predicted.
FEV-1 of 40–55% predicted, or FEV-1/FVC of 40–55%, or DLCO (SB) of 40–55% predicted, or maximum oxygen consumption of 15–20 ml/kg/min.
FEV-1 less than 40% predicted, or FEV-1/FVC less than 40%, or DLCO (SB) less than 40% predicted, or cor pulmonale, or right ventricular hypertrophy, or pulmonary hypertension, or acute respiratory failure, or outpatient oxygen therapy.
FEV-1 of 71–80% predicted, or FEV-1/FVC of 71–80%, or DLCO (SB) of 66–80% predicted.
FEV-1 of 56–70% predicted, or FEV-1/FVC of 56–70%, or DLCO (SB) of 56–65% predicted.
FEV-1 of 40–55% predicted, or FEV-1/FVC of 40–55%, or DLCO (SB) of 40–55% predicted, or maximum oxygen consumption of 15–20 ml/kg/min.
FEV-1 less than 40% predicted, or FEV-1/FVC less than 40%, or DLCO (SB) less than 40% predicted, or cor pulmonale, or right ventricular hypertrophy, or pulmonary hypertension, or acute respiratory failure, or outpatient oxygen therapy.
Asymptomatic but with documented sleep-disordered breathing.
Persistent daytime hypersomnolence.
Requires use of a breathing assistance device such as a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine.
Chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention or cor pulmonale, or requires tracheostomy.
Without polyps, but with greater than 50% obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side.
With polyps.
Detected by X-ray only.
One or two incapacitating episodes per year requiring prolonged (4–6 week) antibiotic treatment, or three to six non-incapacitating episodes per year with headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting.
Three or more incapacitating episodes per year requiring prolonged (4–6 week) antibiotic treatment, or more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year with headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting.
Following radical surgery with chronic osteomyelitis, or near-constant sinusitis with headaches, pain and tenderness of the affected sinus, and purulent discharge or crusting after repeated surgeries.
Chronic residuals following active infection, such as a productive cough with acute infection requiring a course of antibiotics at least twice a year.
Active infection with severe respiratory impairment.
Active pulmonary tuberculosis.
Chronic hilar adenopathy or stable lung infiltrates without symptoms or physiologic impairment.
Pulmonary involvement with persistent symptoms requiring chronic low-dose (maintenance) or intermittent corticosteroids.
Pulmonary involvement requiring systemic high-dose (therapeutic) corticosteroids for control.
Cor pulmonale, or cardiac involvement with congestive heart failure, or progressive pulmonary disease with fever, night sweats, and weight loss despite treatment.
Chronic pleurisy with empyema (pyothorax), with or without percutaneous fistula, following episodes of acute infection.
Key Points to Remember
Medical evidence: provide diagnostic test results (FEV-1, FEV-1/FVC, DLCO) plus records documenting symptoms and treatment
Service connection: demonstrate the link to service via exposure evidence, a nexus opinion, and service treatment records
Presumptive conditions: for certain exposures the VA presumes service connection — no separate nexus required
Timing: PFTs should reflect your condition off bronchodilators where clinically appropriate, because the numbers set the rating
What to Expect in a VA Respiratory C&P Examination
When you file a claim, the VA may schedule a Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam to evaluate the severity of your condition and its connection to service. It can take 30 to 60 days to schedule. The VA does not automatically order an exam for every claimed condition — it generally requires a current diagnosis, evidence of an in-service event or exposure, and an indication of a nexus. If those are not clearly present, the VA may decline to schedule an exam, which can lead to a denial. A well-documented claim is what triggers the exam.
Medical history review — onset, progression, and impact on daily activities, plus exposure history
Symptom description — be honest and comprehensive about shortness of breath, cough, wheezing, chest pain, and fatigue
Physical examination — listening to the lungs for wheezing or crackles and checking for respiratory distress
Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs) — spirometry (FEV-1, FVC) and DLCO to measure obstruction and oxygen transfer
Imaging — chest X-ray or CT scan to view lung structures where indicated
Additional tests — arterial blood gas analysis, or a sleep study if sleep apnea is suspected
What Happens Once the C&P Exam Is Complete
The examiner compiles a detailed report — your medical history, physical findings, and diagnostic results — and assesses the severity, symptoms, and impact of your condition. That report is sent to the VA Regional Office handling your claim and becomes part of your official file, reviewed alongside your other evidence.
The VA may send the report back for corrections, clarification, or a second opinion if it finds it incomplete or unclear. This can delay your claim, because the VA requires thorough and accurate information to decide. Your claim only moves to the decision phase once the VA is satisfied with the evidence — which is exactly why the quality of the file we build for you matters so much.
The Advocate’s Take
If you deployed near a burn pit and now you cannot breathe right, the PACT Act may have already done the hardest part of the claim for you. But the rating still comes down to the PFT numbers and how the C&P exam is documented. That is where we fight.
Every Level the VA Can Assign You
These percentages come straight out of the rating schedule that governs respiratory conditions, tera & the pact act — Diagnostic Code 6602. Read them slowly. If your current rating does not match what your records actually show, that gap is exactly what an appeal exists to correct.
10%
FEV-1 of 71–80% predicted, or FEV-1/FVC of 71–80%, or intermittent inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy.
30%
FEV-1 of 56–70% predicted, or FEV-1/FVC of 56–70%, or daily inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy, or inhalational anti-inflammatory medication.
60%
FEV-1 of 40–55% predicted, or FEV-1/FVC of 40–55%, or at least monthly physician visits for exacerbations, or intermittent (at least three per year) courses of systemic corticosteroids.
100%
FEV-1 less than 40% predicted, or FEV-1/FVC less than 40%, or more than one attack per week with episodes of respiratory failure, or daily use of systemic high-dose corticosteroids or immu…
Secondary Claims — Both Directions
Under 38 CFR §3.310, a condition caused or made worse by an already service-connected condition is itself service connected. That runs in both directions, and it is the single largest pool of unclaimed compensation in the system.
What can cause respiratory conditions, tera & the pact act
If one of these is already service connected, this condition can be claimed as secondary to it.
GERD
Refluxed acid aspirated at night triggers and sustains asthma. This is well recognized in pulmonology literature.
Chronic sinusitis or rhinitis
Upper airway inflammation drives lower airway disease through the unified airway mechanism.
Sleep apnea
Overlap syndrome worsens oxygenation and pulmonary strain.
What respiratory conditions, tera & the pact act can cause
If this condition is already service connected, each of these is a separate claim you may be owed.
Pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale
Chronic lung disease strains the right heart and is separately and heavily compensable.
Sleep apnea
Impaired respiratory mechanics contribute to airway collapse during sleep.
Depression and anxiety
Air hunger and activity loss are documented drivers of mental health conditions.
Weight gain and diabetes
Loss of exercise tolerance plus steroid treatment produces metabolic consequences.
A secondary claim still needs two things: a current diagnosis of the secondary condition, and a medical opinion saying it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by the service-connected condition. You do not have to prove it happened in service.
Building a Respiratory Conditions, TERA & the PACT Act Claim That Wins
Every claim stands on three legs. Knock one out and the claim falls over, no matter how bad your symptoms are. Before you file, look at your file and find all three.
A current diagnosis
A doctor has to say you have it, now, in writing. Not "reports symptoms of" — a diagnosis. Without this leg, nothing else in the file matters.
A link to your service
An event, an injury, an exposure, or an already service-connected condition. Service records, unit records, buddy statements, and your own account all count as evidence.
A nexus that ties the two together
A medical opinion stating it is at least as likely as not that your service caused or aggravated the condition. That phrase is a legal standard: 50 percent or better. It is the leg most denials break.
Document the problem before you file
• Keep a dated symptom log for at least 30 days. Frequency, severity, and what it stopped you from doing.
• Get statements from people who see it — a spouse, a coworker, a battle buddy. Lay evidence is legal evidence.
• Pull your private treatment records. The VA only has to help; it does not have to go find everything.
• Write down what you have stopped doing. Lost work, lost sleep, lost activities. That is what impairment looks like on paper.
Your Rights in This Process
It costs nothing to file
Filing a VA claim is free. Accredited representatives may only charge for work on an appeal after an initial decision, and those fees are capped by 38 CFR §14.636.
The VA has a Duty to Assist you
Under 38 CFR §3.159 the VA must help you get the evidence it needs, and it must tell you what is missing before it denies you for missing it.
You can ask for a different examiner
You may request a trauma-informed clinician, or a clinician of a specific gender, for a C&P examination. Ask before the exam is scheduled.
You can claim every condition you have
There is no limit and no penalty. Primary conditions, secondary conditions, and conditions made worse by service all get filed.
You can appeal and be re-evaluated
A denial is not the end. You may submit new evidence, request a higher-level review, appeal to the Board, and ask for re-evaluation when your condition worsens.
You must be considered for TDIU
If your service-connected conditions keep you from holding substantially gainful employment, you may be paid at the 100 percent rate without a 100 percent rating.
Questions Veterans Ask About Respiratory Conditions, TERA & the PACT Act Claims
Do I have to prove I was near a burn pit?
No. If you served in a covered location during a covered period and you have a qualifying diagnosis, the PACT Act presumption does the work for you. You supply the service dates and the diagnosis.
My breathing test looked normal. Is my claim dead?
No. Asthma is also ratable on treatment intensity: intermittent inhalational therapy, daily inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy, inhalational anti-inflammatory medication, and courses of systemic corticosteroids all appear in the criteria. Document the prescriptions and refills.
Should the VA use my pre-inhaler or post-inhaler numbers?
The regulation directs post-bronchodilator results for rating purposes unless they are poorer than the pre-bronchodilator results, in which case the pre-bronchodilator values are used. If the exam report only contains one set, that is a defect worth challenging.
When You Are Ready to File
Talk to an accredited representative before you file. It costs nothing to ask, and the order you file in changes what the VA is allowed to award you. Albert L. Thombs Jr. is VA-Accredited Claims Agent #45147.
The application itself
This is the form that opens a disability compensation claim. List every condition you are claiming, and name the secondary conditions explicitly.
Release for private records
Authorises the VA to request records from your private doctors. Without it, treatment outside the VA may never reach your file.
Lay or buddy statement
The official form for your own statement and for statements from people who witnessed the event or the change in you.
Resources Worth Keeping
These are real, staffed VA lines. Tap to call from your phone.
Veterans Crisis Line
988
Then press 1. Text 838255. Available 24 hours a day, every day. You do not need to be enrolled in VA health care.
VA Benefits & Facility Line
1-800-827-1000
Claim status, general benefits questions, and help finding the right VA office.
Women Veterans Call Center
1-855-829-6636
Call or text. Staffed by women veterans who can connect you to services in your area.
Vet Centers
1-877-927-8387
Community-based counselling for combat veterans and their families. No VA enrollment required.
What This Rating Is Worth (2026)
| 10% | $180.42/mo |
| 20% | $356.66/mo |
| 30% | $552.47/mo |
| 40% | $795.84/mo |
| 50% | $1,132.90/mo |
| 60% | $1,435.02/mo |
| 70% | $1,808.45/mo |
| 80% | $2,102.15/mo |
| 90% | $2,362.30/mo |
| 100% | $3,938.58/mo |
Rates shown are the veteran-alone amounts effective December 1, 2025. A spouse, children, or dependent parents increase your payment at 30% and above. Every 10% you are under-rated can cost you thousands of dollars a year for the rest of your life.
Estimate Your Exact Pay
Veteran RepresentationYour VA Claim Exam: What to Expect
This official VBA video walks you through the entire C&P exam process. Understanding what happens in that room is the difference between a rating that reflects your true condition and one that undervalues you.
Veteran RepresentationWhat It Takes to Win These Benefits
The Three-Part Test
Service connection under 38 CFR §3.303 requires all three:
- 1A current, diagnosed disability
- 2An in-service event, injury, or exposure
- 3A medical nexus linking the two
Veteran RepresentationThe medical evidence the VA is actually looking for:
VA Claim Exams: Respiratory, Cardiology, Ear/Nose/Throat
This exam is specific to your body system. The examiner uses a specialized DBQ for this category of conditions, and the tests they perform determine your exact rating level. Watch this before your appointment.
What to Expect at Your C&P Exam
Your Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam is not treatment. It is a rating tool. The examiner will not fix anything — they complete a Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) and check the boxes that decide your rating. What happens in that room can move your rating an entire level, so walk in prepared.
Veteran RepresentationThe Forms You File — We Prepare Them For You
These are the forms that drive this claim. Start any of them on our site and an accredited agent prepares and files it for you — correctly, the first time.
Application for Disability Compensation
The core application that opens or reopens your claim.
Start this with usStatement in Support of Claim
Your own account and buddy/lay statements that fill the gaps in your record.
Start this with usAppoint Us as Your Representative
Authorizes our accredited agent to act on your behalf with the VA.
Start this with usUnemployability (TDIU) Application
Claims 100% pay when your conditions keep you from working — even below 100%.
Start this with usDisability Benefits Questionnaire
The exam form that captures the severity criteria for this specific condition.
Start this with usSMC & TDIU — When Your Rating Isn't the Whole Story
TDIU — Paid at 100% Without a 100% Rating
Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (38 CFR §4.16) pays you at the 100% rate when your service-connected conditions prevent substantially gainful employment — even if your combined rating is lower. You may qualify if:
- One condition is rated 60% or higher, or
- Two+ conditions combine to 70% with at least one rated 40%, and
- Those conditions keep you from holding steady, gainful work.
- Cannot meet the numbers? Extraschedular TDIU under §4.16(b) may still apply.
Special Monthly Compensation (SMC)
SMC (38 CFR §3.350) pays above the normal schedule for especially serious losses — loss or loss of use of a body part, being housebound, or needing the aid and attendance of another person. Common levels:
- SMC-K — Loss / loss of use — Add-on for loss or loss of use of a specific body part (hand, foot, eye, reproductive organ, or certain other losses). Paid on top of your regular compensation. Can stack (up to the statutory cap).
- SMC-S — Housebound — Statutory housebound: a single 100% disability plus additional disabilities of 60%+, or substantially confined to your home. Veteran-alone rate shown.
- SMC-L — Aid & Attendance — You need the regular aid and attendance of another person, or have anatomical loss/loss of use of both feet, one hand and one foot, blindness, or are permanently bedridden. Veteran-alone rate shown.
- SMC-M — Higher Aid & Attendance — A higher level of aid and attendance (e.g., loss of use of both hands, or loss of use of both legs at a higher level). Veteran-alone rate shown.
These are the benefits veterans most often leave on the table because no one told them they qualified. If any of this sounds like your situation, call an accredited agent at 702-992-4883 — we screen for SMC and TDIU on every case.
Keep Reading
Talk to a VA-accredited claims agent about respiratory conditions, tera & the pact act
Albert L. Thombs Jr. is a US Army veteran, VA-Accredited Claims Agent #45147, and 100% service-connected himself. He personally reviews every request. Fees are capped by 38 CFR §14.636 — and there are no fees unless you win.
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